Spring 2005 - Technological Leadership Institute - University of ...

On the Move
Management of
Technology
Steve Aaron (MOT ’05) is now
a senior systems engineer at
Cisco Systems Inc., in Bloomington,
Minn.
Brian Bechard (MOT ’02), who
previously worked at the
University of Minnesota, is
technology project manager at
Charles River Labs in Osceola,
Wis.
Brent Dennis (MOT ’01) is
now a project manager at
GMAC RFC in Minneapolis.
Drew Flaada (MOT ’96) directs
the IBM/Mayo Collaboration
and Life Sciences in Rochester,
Minn.
Peter Hairston (MOT ’93)
moved to Northrop-Grumman
in Baltimore and is program
manager of electro-optics.
Kurt Korkowski (MOT ’01) is
now senior project manager at
AEIOMed Inc., in Minneapolis.
Jim Landon (MOT ’03) moved
to Raytheon in Tucson, Ariz.,
and is a navigation design
engineering manager.
Blake Larson (MOT ’93) is vice
president and general manager
for ATK Composites in Utah.
Kevin Lyons (MOT ’05) is now
principal production engineer
at Datacard Group in Minnetonka,
Minn.
Keith McLaughlin (MOT ’04) is
now the manager of
engineering operations for
Global Device Management,
LLC, Duluth, Minn.
Kate Plaisance (MOT ’03),
who previously worked at the
University of Minnesota, is
an in vitro analyst for Cargill
Animal Nutrition in Elk River,
Minn.
Lew Schuweiler (MOT ’94) is
project director for Ajilon
Professional Services in
Bloomington, Minn.
Terri Swanson (MOT ’94) is
chief information officer for
CIGNA in Hartford, Conn.
Tim Walker (MOT ’01) is a
manager for Ingersoll-Rand Climate
Control in Minneapolis.
Infrastructure Systems
Engineering
Vicki Barron (ISE ‘03),
formerly of the Minnesota
Department of Transportation,
is now director of design and
construction for the Phoenix
Light Rail Transit System.
Ryan Bluhm (ISE ’01),
formerly an engineer-in-training
at Mccombs Frank Roos
Associates, Inc., is now the
director of engineering with
Master Civil & Construction
Engineering, Inc.
Kevin Kimmes (ISE ’02),
formerly an engineer with
Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik &
Associates, is now a civil discipline
leader with Bonestroo,
Rosene, Anderlik & Associates
in Mequon, Wis.
Jacob Fick (ISE ’04), formerly
an engineer-in-training with
Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik &
Associates, is now a project
manager with Laurent Development.
Nick Peterson (ISE ’05),
formerly a project engineer
with Ulteig Engineers Inc., is
now an engineer with the
Hennepin County Transportation
Department.
CenterNews
CDTL welcomes new staff
Connie Garrahy joined the Center for the Development of
Technological Leadership (CDTL) as associate director for
finance and administration in October. She most recently served
as director of business affairs at Dakota County Technical
College and also has worked for Southwest State University,
the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and the Internal
Revenue Service. She graduated magna cum laude from
Southwest State University, Marshall, Minn., with a degree in
accounting and business administration.
“I was attracted to the center because its management of
technology degree continues to grow in recognition across the
country and the globe,” notes Garrahy. “At the same time, the
center has an entreprenuerial spirit with opportunities to create
new programs, and a staff with a can-do attitude, which
complement each other.”
At CDTL, she provides senior-level direction to the financial
and administrative areas, coordinates the center’s annual budgeting
activities, provides human resources services, oversees the
center’s accounting and business functions, and serves as a
member of the center’s management team.
In February, Hallie Grant joined CDTL as an administrative
assistant. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, River Falls,
Grant most recently worked for the University of Minnesota
Raptor Center. At CDTL, she provides administrative support
for Massoud Amin, CDTL director, and for the endowed chair
holders; assists with marketing efforts, event inquiries and
registration, and publications; and plans and organizes the
annual fall forum.
Chair holders extend research reach
Massoud Amin, CDTL director, H.W. Sweatt chair holder,
and electrical and computer engineering professor, received
$100,000 in funding from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
Tenn. He serves as principal investigator for the project,
“Sensor-based Power Grid Control,” and is researching real-time
parameter estimation and distributed control of the North
American electric power system. A member of the National
Academy of Engineering’s Board on Infrastructure and
Constructed Environment, Amin recently joined the academy’s
Critical Infrastructure Protection Roundtable.
Amin also serves as a co-principal investigator for the first
Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence. The
Center for Risk & Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, with
headquarters at the University of Southern California (USC),
partners with several U.S. universities, including the New York
University system, University of Wisconsin, North Carolina State
University, and the University of Minnesota, and involves 38
faculty members. The total award to USC is $12 million over
three years.
Kelvin Willoughby, W.R. Sweatt chair and director of graduate
studies for the MS-MOT program, is co-chair of the statewide
bio-business industry assessment project, an activity of the newly
formed BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota.
Spring 2005 5